5 Things You Should Know Before You Get A Dog

Thinking of getting a dog? Great choice! But there are some things you need to know before you go out and get a dog.

1. Dogs cost money. No, not just when you get one. Dogs cost money AFTER you get them. They need a never-ending supply of dog food. They need vaccinations, heartworm preventive and trips to the vet. They need toys and bedding. Your dog is going to dip into your wallet every single week. In hard economic times some people have had to give up their dogs. If this isn’t a good time for you financially then you should postpone getting a dog until it’s a better time.

2. Dogs take time. When you bring a dog home, whether you’re getting a puppy or an adult dog, you’re going to have to spend time on things like housetraining, teaching your dog the rules of the house, working on any behavior issues (such as jumping on people, digging, barking), trips to the vet, and all of the playtime that your new dog is going to want. Whether you’re getting a pup or a rescue dog you can count on spending some time trying to socialize your dog. All of these things take TIME. You can’t bring a dog home and let him fend for himself. You basically get the kind of dog you’re willing to develop. If you don’t put time into your dog then you’re going to end up with problems. If you don’t have time for a dog right now, wait to get a dog when you have more time.

3. Dogs are messy. Your new dog is going to come into your house and make a mess of it. He’s going to chew on things. He’s going to drool. He’s going to slobber water. He may not be housetrained. He will have accidents in the house. There will be dog hair in your home. If you’re a perfectionist or you have OCD then you are in for a shock. If you want a real dog these are things you will have to accept to a certain extent. Your dog can be housetrained. He will stop having accidents. He may stop chewing on your things. But he’s always going to be a dog and do dog things like shedding and drooling and slobbering. If that bothers you then you may want to think about getting a stuffed animal instead of a real dog.

4, Dogs need training. It’s great to meet a well-mannered dog — a dog that walks calmly next to his owner without pulling. A dog that doesn’t jump up on people or bark too much. A dog that might know a couple of tricks. You may think that all dogs come this way. They don’t. If you want your dog to be polite and well-mannered then it takes training. If you get your new dog and he behaves like a hooligan that’s not really all that unusual. Many dogs start off acting like knuckleheads. You can teach your new puppy or adolescent dog to behave but it takes some work on your part. Make training fun and your dog can learn just about anything. But, if you’re not willing to train your dog then you get the dog you deserve.

5. Your dog depends on you. As crazy as a dog may be when he’s playing or as tough as he may seem when he’s protecting you, your dog will depend on you for all of the important things in his life. He will depend on you for every need and comfort. You can’t forget to feed him or ignore him when he needs to go outside. Having a dog is fun and wonderful and very rewarding but it’s also a serious responsibility. Make sure you’re ready for that responsibility before you get a dog.

Until next time…..